Pages

Saturday, February 23, 2013

BLOG TOUR: Lucifer by Annabell Cadiz

Welcome to our stop on the Lucifer, Sons of Old Trilogy Blog Tour.
We've both been chomping at the bit to get our hands on this book and
the opportunity to show off and support one of our favorite book nerds
as she ventures into the world of published author.
Annabell Cadiz is a vibrate, carefree personality with a talent for
juggling and wears many hats--- blogger, reviewer, tour host- now author
and all around great gal. We're proud to know her.

So today we're thrilled to bring Annabell to the blog. We've got a
quick- and FUN interview along with a bit about the book and our
thoughts.

We can't thank Annabell enough for the opportunity to spread the
word. We hope you enjoy what we've put together for you and that you'll
add Lucifer to your TBR.

We love ya, Annabell and wish you nothing but success.
Now let's move on to the FUN...

Lucifer

(Sons of Old Trilogy,
Book 1)

Author: Annabell
Cadiz

Genre: New Adult,
Urban Fantasy, Paranormal, Supernatural

Synopsis: Have you ever wondered what could be hiding
in the shadows?

Well, for eighteen-year-old Zahara Faraday, she doesn’t have to wonder. You see
she comes from a lineage of Light Witches, those who have chosen to help
protect and serve between the supernatural world and the human world. The only
problem is Zahara, like her father Solomon, is as human as a human being can be
whereas her mother, Mia, and her Aunt Catalina, were born as Light Witches. As
a family they hunt down rogue supernaturals—creatures who harm humans or who have
committed an act against their kingdom.

Zahara’s hunting skills are usually kept dormant since her parents would prefer
she live life as a normal human girl without knowledge of the supernatural
world. She plans on doing just that—except when she finds a couple being
attacked by fairies, she has no choice but to step in. Before she can return to
pretending to be blissfully ignorant, Zahara encounters a problem she isn’t the
least equip to handle: Bryan Hamilton, the good looking new co-worker she has to
help train. In a heartbeat, her best friend, Becca King, has set her up on a
double date with herself and her new crush, Rekesh Saint-Louis, who happens to
be the most powerful leader of the biggest Imago Coven in South Florida
–supernatural creatures with the ability to control water . . . and suck out
human souls.

Zahara has no time to focus on how she’s going to explain her double date with
her best friend and the enemy they have a tentative truce with to her parents
because soon one of the members of Mia and Catalina’s coven is found murdered
with a strange tattoo of a snake with wings carved into his arm.

Zahara is then thrown into a whirlwind battle with an angel determined to have
revenge against God, an Imago coven she doesn’t think they should trust, and
slew of dream-eating fairies and powerful Nephilims, hybrid children of angels
and humans, more than happy to rip her to shreds.

AC:Originally, I
hadn’t planned to write LUCIFER
or the SONS OF OLD TRILOGY. The idea for the trilogy came after I had written
the first two drafts to the first book in the FALLEN ANGELS SERIES, the series
that follows the SONS OF OLD TRILOGY. I had needed to take a step back to
decide where I was going to go with the FA series. I didn’t know how I would
want to move forward with the series, so I started thinking about the story that
happened before the FA series. I thought maybe it would be fun to tell the
story of how Lucifer started the journey to creating his war. How did Lucifer
wind up with a child? Did a woman actually fall in love with him? Was he
capable of love? Would he just force a woman to have his baby? The questions
expanded into characters which expanded into a plot which expanded into a crazy
trilogy ;)

TSK TSK: So you
have a couple of addictions---Cinnamon Teddy Grahams and Minute Maid OJ-what
got you hooked? Do you ever over indulge?

AC: Um, have
y’all tasted Cinnamon Teddy Grahams?! Those darn cookies are like a clean,
cookie goodness version of crack *hehe* Cookie crack! *giggle* I’ve just loved
them ever since I was younger. I don’t remember what I first started eating
them but the love for them has never stopped. Minute Maid OJ saved my life. No
joke! I had planned a trip to Orlando to attend Night of Joy, which is this BIG
Christian concert event that features tons of musical artists and fans. You’re
literary running around all over the park where it’s hosted listening to
awesome music! When I had woken up that morning, my stomach was totally off. I
felt so sick but I was determined to go since I had already paid for my ticket
and planned the trip with two of my best friends, Ninja and Hello Kitty (a.k.a.
Nitsu and Eve). I couldn’t really eat or drink anything, so when we got to the
park I bought a veggi burger and a Minute Maid OJ. After drinking the OJ, my
stomach instantly felt better and saved my trip =)

TSK TSK: Your
current book boyfriend- longstanding favorite?

AC: My current
book boyfriend is Rekesh from LUCIFER (Is it cheating if I pick a character
from my own book? lol) Rekesh is just so suave and sexy and polished. He’s
quite distracting when I’m writing ;) If I’m choosing from another book, I’d
have to go with Adrian from The Bloodlines Series by Richelle Mead *swoon* Bit
of a bad boy with a good heart and a sarcastic streak, hard to resist ;)

TSK TSK:You call
yourself a proud Jesus freak. Does your faith and your love of paranormal books
ever cause any conflicts? How do you deal- if you have to?

AC: Any conflicts
when writing? Not so much conflict, as a different perspective when creating a
storyline and characters. I write what fits a character and what fits a scene
based on how the plot progresses. I steer clear of sex scenes because I don’t
like reading them so why would I write them? My faith has taught me the value
of knowing your own self-worth, how to have self-respect and practice good
self-preservation, and how to be strong emotionally, mentally, and spiritually.
I want to read and write characters like that. Flawed but who learn from those
flaws. In that respect, my faith has played a big role in how I approach
writing my books. And how romance develops in the books. I don’t care for
insta-love or love triangles (not so much a “faith” thing as a “reader”
preference). I’ve been taught if a guy really wants to be with you he’ll court
you the way he should. Meet the parents. Get to know the family. Build a
friendship with you before jumping into a committed relationship. Hold the door
open for you. Be honest, open, and trusting. It’s the way I understand how
romantic relationships are built in my world and I try to bring some of those
same elements to the way romances are built between my characters.

TSK TSK: Place to
want to visit most in the world?

AC: Oh man! There
are so many!! I REALLY want to go to Vienna, Austria. I want to visit Mozart’s
home and take part in the end of the year ball, Le Grand Bal, in the Imperial
Palace. The women dress up in elegant ball gowns and the men in tailor made
tuxedoes. It would be so much fun to have a night where you kind of go back in
time *giggle*

TSK TSK: What is your all-time favorite book or series?

AC: Are y’all
serious with this question?! You can’t ask a book-a-holic such a question!
That’s like asking a chocolate fiend what’s his or hers most favorite
chocolate. Impossible to answer! BUT I’ll tell you what some of my favorite
books/series are:

Tiger Lily by Jodi Lynn Anderson

Avalon High by Meg Cabot

The Bloodlines Series by Richelle Mead

Percy Jackson Series & Heroes of Olympus Series, both by
Rick Riordan

Caster Chronicles by Kami Garcia & Margaret Stohl

TSK TSK: How do
you do it all--- writer, reviewer/blogger, tour host?

AC: Well, ladies,
if you REALLY want to know the secret to juggling it all . . . *whispers come
closer** There isn’t one! lol Every day is a different balancing act since the
schedule doesn’t always go as planned and life can throw curve balls. I have a
support team of FABTASTIC people! Bridget helps a good deal with stuff on
TeamNerd. Eve and Bridget help me figure out my ideas and tell me if something
I write belongs in the “This is crap” pile which definitely helps as a writer.
My parents keep a steady influx of books coming in (they just know what their
daughter wants so well lol). My brother acts as my bodyguard when I go to book
events.

But I’m also use to living in a world of constant chaos. I grew
up with a LOOOOT of people and lot of craziness. I’m used to working under
pressure and working hard. It’s just part of my nature. I work fast and
efficiently. I’ve been like that since I was a kid. Once I lock onto something,
I’ll find a way to get it done. If I can’t come through, you know it’s for a
REALLY good reason, because I will do everything I can to stick to my word.

TSK TSK: What do
you like to do on the weekend---when your nose isn't stuck in a book?

AC: Right now, my
nephew is in soccer season so you’ll catch me at his games, screaming from the
stands. I’ll usually be out shopping with my mom or catching a movie with my
small crew of best friends or hanging out at their houses or catching up on
naps lol.

TSK TSK: Do you
like to dance?

AC: I like to
dance. Kind of lol. I don’t think I have much rhythm and feel like I look like
a total whack job dancing, but my best friends assure me that isn’t true. Not
sure if they’re saying that because they just like to watch me act like a fool
or because they really think I’m good at busting a move =P I usually don’t
dance because I’m just REALLY shy (I know, I know, so hard to believe lol), so
most of the time, if you catch me dancing, it’s just around my best friends.

TSK TSK: Does
writing come easily for you or is it more like extracting blood from a stone?

AC: Haha! That
depends on the day. Some days writing comes in a really great flow, the words
just seem to fall into place. While other days, writing can feel like someone’s
trying to yank your brain out through your nose. Most of the time though,
writing days go really well. When action scenes come in or a really intense
emotional moment whether it’s romantic or fearful or whatever emotion, those
can be a bit more hard to extract from my brain and form into words.
Description is my Achilles heel though. That’s always a toughie for me in both
world building and character features. It’s ‘cause I get too excited and my
brain thinks too many details at once!

TSK TSK:Do you
have any writing rituals?

AC: I like to
outline a story first before writing it. I form a basic plot line then begin to
break down what will happen in each chapter. I like to have the TV on in the
background, have a bowl of snacks at the ready (like Cinnamon Teddy Grahams
*hehe* or chocolate chip cookies), and either orange juice or fruit punch. Then
I sit down and start writing.

TSK TSK: Is there
a playlist for Lucifer?

AC: Funny you ask
since I created a playlist a bit ago for LUCIFER ;)

Soundtrack for
Lucifer (Sons of Old Trilogy, #1)

Crazy Button by Family Force 5

Invincible by OK GO

Barton Hollow by Civil Wars

A Beautiful Lie by 30 Seconds of Mars

Closer by Kings of Leon

Everybody’s Fool by Evanescence

Dirty Little Secrets by The All American Rejects

Bloom by The Paper Kites

Vertigo by Anya Marina

Good Girl by Carrie Underwood

You Lie by The Band Perry

Beat the Devil’s Tattoo by Black Rebel Motorcycle Club

TSK TSK: How much
research went in to writing Lucifer?

AC: A good amount
of research. I looked up various info on Nephilim and fallen angels, on the
story from the Bible about Lucifer’s rebellion, on folk stories about vampires
(I had originally used vampires in Sons of Old but changed it when I rewrote
the book). I always like to pick names with meanings I like so I do a lot of research
on names before selecting them.

Annabell Cadiz was born in the sweltering heat of South
Florida. She was raised surrounded by Puerto Rican chefs and band of siblings
that weren’t all related to her. A self-proclaimed nerd and book-a-holic (her
room does hold much evidence to prove her claims are justifiable), she created
TeamNerd Reviews to showcase her EXTREME love for novels where, along with her
best friend, Bridget Strahin, she hosts book reviews, interviews, giveaways,
Indie Shoutouts and much more. She also blog tour services for authors. She
also had the pleasure of being published in three separate issue of Suspense
Magazine. She also adores Cinnamon Teddy Grahams, has an addiction to Minute
Maid Orange juice, and is a proud Jesus Freak. Lucifer is Annabell’s debut novel and the first book in the Sons of Old Trilogy.

Gosh, where to start... I guess by saying, I was anxious to read this
debut by our sweet book nerd friend, Annabell. The anticipation had
been growing over the last few months and I was thrilled to finally get
it started. I love the premise of the story, and it had been awhile
since I'd read a YA Paranormal Romance. I've had my head in
contemporaries and fantasy lately and was ready to switch it up.
Before jumping in, the questions began to build in my mind... How dark
would the tale be? What would Annabell's style be like? Would it be
intense and suspenseful?

Well right off I'll tell you it was refreshing to read of a young
romance (or two), that isn't heavily laden with sexual innuendo and
tension. The two girls were very much sweet, innocent and dedicated to
their beliefs. And while I myself can have the mouth of a sailor, I
don't necessarily like to read a YA book filled with swearing- unless it
fits the characters and storyline. The Faraday's are a family of strong
believers in their faith and live their lives protecting the innocent
and preserving the balance between good and evil- right and wrong.

But what happens when that evil actually comes looking for them---specifically Zahara?
They hold on to those beliefs and do everything in their power to
protect the young Light Witch, their heritage and the world from
Lucifer's wrath and revenge.

Annabel wastes no time building her world around Zahara, her family
and friends, and we're thrust into a never ending battle between the
Witches and those who serve Lucifer and the dark side. Zahara is well
aware of her families "business". From a young age she's trained in self
defense and the art of battle, but while her parents believe in her
abilities, they are overprotective of Zahara and her human best friend,
Becca. They go to school, train, go to work, and stick close to home.

Like typical teenagers- give them an inch and they take a mile- so
the girls take a few chances, Zahara's strength for granted, and put
them all in imminent danger.
Soon Zahara finds her parents haven't been completely forthcoming about
her family's heritage and they find themselves in an age old battle
against, you guessed it---Lucifer. And with a trickster like the fallen
angel they also discover they can't be sure who to trust or believe
everything they see.

It's a battle of wits, strength- and to the very end. Keep in mind this is a trilogy.

What I loved about the story? The closeness of Faraday family and
their dedication. There is no doubting their love for one another. No
reason for Zahara to question her parents conviction and the path they
follow. It had moments of lightheartedness and that kept it fun. The
girl's romances aren't hot and heavy and don't overshadow the heart of
the tale.
Annabell had enough twists to keep it interesting and I didn't expect the cliffhanger... Tricky, tricky.

My only complaints (for lack of a better word at the moment); it was a
bit heavy with the descriptives...some seemed superficial and didn't
contribute to the story. I didn't have a strong connection to Zahara or
any of the other characters, but I did like them and wanted to follow
them and learn more about their world. Becca- well being the human got
on my nerves a bit. She was for the most part an angsty teen and her
behavior was a times over the top.
I was hoping to learn more about Zahara's great-grandmother, Margaret
and her aunt Catalina, their history- those journals and the three
magical items they had hidden and Lucifer hoped to procure. I have my
fingers crossed we'll get more about each of those in the next
installment.

Overall Lucifer was an enjoyable read. A solid debut and a storyline I
plan to continue to follow. I recommend it to anyone looking for a
clean paranormal romance that doesn't get too dark and gory and take you
over the edge. Instead it takes you right to the edge and leaves you
hanging...

I couldn't wait to dive in to Lucifer by Annabell Cadiz. I mean, it has none other than THE bad guy of them all in the book....so, opening up to the prologue, I began reading, and was highly intrigued right away. First thinking, hmmm....where is this going to go?

So, on in to the book I go....and within the first few chapters, I felt that I was loaded down with details on stuff that I didn't feel I needed the lengthy deets on. But, I plowed ahead and found that after about 30% this pans out and the heart of the story truly begins to unfold.

We first meet the best friends, Zahara and Becca. While written in 3rd person, we get to hear and see everything happening. I enjoyed this aspect of the book, yet at times I felt like I couldn't connect to the main characters as much. But that is only b/c I have been reading A LOT of 1st person POV lately. The way Annabell writes in Lucifer works perfectly....written eloquently and easy to follow, you immerse yourself in to the world that she has created. The story is unique and captivating; keeping you enthralled right up til the end with the suspense of the tale unfolding before you.

With supernatural creatures at their backdoor, the Faraday family---which is made up of Light Witches and humans---take on the role of keeping things in line. Seeing the daily routines of training, you know that they are going to be ready for whatever comes their way. AND...who decides to show up and turn their world upside down?? Yep, LUCIFER...I don't spoil and give details of storyline, but let's say this....when he drops in we are carried on a roller coaster ride of events that lead you deeper in to the dark world of the supernatural. We get to meet Rekesh, a rogue and leader of a local coven, we see fairies, fallen angels, a werewolf, nephilim, and of course witches themselves.

Overall, I really enjoyed Lucifer. Although, leaving us with a cliffhanger....YES....I need book 2 now so I can find out what is going to happen....I definitely recommend that you add Lucifer to your reading lists!!

ENTER FOR A CHANCE TO WIN THE FABTASTIC SWAG PACK!

In honor of the two main female leads in LUCIFER, Zahara
and Becca, Annabell created a fun swag pack for ONE very lucky winner!

Win a specially made makeup kit by E.L.F along with one DVD copy of
the movie Sixteen Candles, a fuschia metallic manicure set, a Girl Power
Superwoman wristband, a LOVE IS A BATTLEFIELD silver necklace, a silver
bracelet with handcuff & key charms, Honey Sweetheart lotion (that smells
INCREDIBLE!), two toned lip bloom (that is SUPER cute!), and gray colored
cheetah printed socks that are SOOOO adorables and an ecopy of LUCIFER!

ANNNND if that wasn't enough, FIVE other lucky winners will
win a FREE ecopy of LUCIFER!

TWICE a week on MONDAYS & FRIDAYS a new clue from LUCIFER will
be posted up. Enter the new clue inside the Rafflecopter every time a new one
is posted and get more chances to win!

Kathryn's GR Reading Challenge

Kathryn's Most Recently Read

AWESOME!!!!!
Full review....
Lila Felix has blown me away...With Lightning Kissed, she has created a unique, intriguing world that draws the reader in to the complex and dynamic storyline featuring some fascinating characters.
We begin ...

A.M. Hargrove has really outdone herself this time.
She threw me for a loop with this one and just wow!!!
I was eagerly awaiting Kade's book because he is the one brother we haven't had a lot of exposure to. He also had such a hard life...